Slog
News & ArtsMonday, January 14, 2013
Health / Chow Here's Coke's New Anti-Obesity Ad
Posted by Paul Constant on Mon, Jan 14, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Ben Popken, who blogs for the Today show, writes:
For the first time ever, a big soda company is launching a campaign to combat obesity. The Coca-Cola Co., fighting back on how the sweet calories in sugary sodas have become a health policy and obesity bogeyman lately, kicks off its initiative with a new epic two-minute ad called "Coming Together." It's live online and begins airing tonight on CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.
Coca-Cola isn't doing this out of the kindness of their corporations-are-people-my-friends hearts, of course. This is an attempt to pre-empt local anti-soda legislation by promoting their own self-regulation. Coca-Cola employs some very smart people who predict which way the wind is blowing, and they can tell that there's a war coming about soda and sugar and obesity. This is Coke trying to win the war before it's even really started.
1
They could start selling Coke with real sugar instead of corn syrup.
Like the bottles you can get from Mexico.
Like the bottles you can get from Mexico.
6
"We've added the calorie content of all the beverages on the front, to help make it even easier for people to make informed decisions."
Bullshit. That was a requirement from the Affordable Care Act, the same clause that requires chain restaurants to have the calorie information shown on their menus. They didn't have a choice in the matter.
Bullshit. That was a requirement from the Affordable Care Act, the same clause that requires chain restaurants to have the calorie information shown on their menus. They didn't have a choice in the matter.
7
@6 it really doesn't matter since about 98% of people have never been taught, or if they did it was in like 7th grade, about nutrition, calories and the like.
You cannot make an informed decision if you are never informed in the first place
You cannot make an informed decision if you are never informed in the first place
9
Americans drink that shit? Really? They deserve to be fat if they drink that crap. Sugar and corn sweetener and honey and barley malt and maple syrup are not the enemy. Making them 75% of your caloric intake is bad, but they are not inherently evil or bad.
10
how about make some ice tea or drink some water? those have no calories and also have NO chemicals in them! yay! also water is basically free (unless you like buying bottled tap water for $2 a bottle)
11
Everything Coca-Cola produces is bad for you and bad for the planet.
Thirsty? Turn on your tap. Have some water.
Thirsty? Turn on your tap. Have some water.
12
Robert Lustig, UCSF pediatric endocrinologist, was on TotN Science Friday last week:
http://sciencefriday.com/segment/01/11/2…
http://sciencefriday.com/blogs/01/10/201…
http://sciencefriday.com/segment/01/11/2…
In his new book Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease, endocrinologist and obesity doc Robert Lustig deconstructs the mythology of fat. He says exercise, for all its benefits, won't help you shed pounds -- and that fasting only worsens weight gain.Also, an excerpt from his new book:
http://sciencefriday.com/blogs/01/10/201…
14
A can of Coke contains 10 teaspoons of sugar! ...that is obscene, no matter whether the sugar is cane or corn-derived. Not that sugar per se is evil, but a huge percentage of the Americain diet is built around such "white" foods; i.e., white flour, white rice, white sugar - in all of their forms - and all of which have very little nutritional value. "Enriched" white flour is one of the greatest frauds perpetuated by the factory food industry ...all they've done is add back a few vitamins after stripping out virtually all nutrition from the whole grains.
I'd estimate 60% of calories in the average American diet are from white foods, which cause spikes of insulin & are easily converted to fat in the body, especially in folks who are not expending the calories through phyical activity of any kind - not just going to the gym, but even walking, gardening, taking stairs etc etc...
Coke & its apologists can sugar coat the message as much as they want - and they will - but the fact is that they are peddlers of flavored, nutrition-free sugar water that is contributing in a big way to obesity & other health problems like diabetes.
I'd estimate 60% of calories in the average American diet are from white foods, which cause spikes of insulin & are easily converted to fat in the body, especially in folks who are not expending the calories through phyical activity of any kind - not just going to the gym, but even walking, gardening, taking stairs etc etc...
Coke & its apologists can sugar coat the message as much as they want - and they will - but the fact is that they are peddlers of flavored, nutrition-free sugar water that is contributing in a big way to obesity & other health problems like diabetes.
16
"Zero-calorie" sweeteners trick your brain into thinking it's hungry. Net result? Statistically, people put on more weight.
@13 - C'mon. This is corporate feel-good B.S. that to help you associate Coke as part of the solution and not part of the problem. "Worried about obesity? Drink Coke. Need to lose weight? COKE COKE COKE". See #11.
@13 - C'mon. This is corporate feel-good B.S. that to help you associate Coke as part of the solution and not part of the problem. "Worried about obesity? Drink Coke. Need to lose weight? COKE COKE COKE". See #11.
17
Whenever a publicly traded company does anything, remember this: by law, a publicly traded company can not do anything that is not profit motivated, as it would be a disservice to the shareholders.
Pink ribbons, donations, anti-obesity campaigns...it all legally has to be to turn a profit. They can not be charitable. It is always about the bottom line.
Pink ribbons, donations, anti-obesity campaigns...it all legally has to be to turn a profit. They can not be charitable. It is always about the bottom line.
18
@17: Well, the bottom line is that Americans are becoming more health conscious about sugar. The bottom line is that companies have to adapt to that to maintain a profit. This one of those rare symbiotic developments where health and profit motivations are not incongruous.
Another bottom line is that water is boring. I know it goes well with your rice cakes and tofu paste, but the rest of us want to enjoy a diet cola or grape soda - thank you very much!
Another bottom line is that water is boring. I know it goes well with your rice cakes and tofu paste, but the rest of us want to enjoy a diet cola or grape soda - thank you very much!
20
We have seltzer either with a splash of grenadine, or with bitters. Not every day, but once a week. Not many calories. Thanks to The Coterie Room for turning us on to this. Tastier than water, a little better than juice or artificial sweetener-laced diet soft drinks.
BTW, I listened to Lustig's "Science Friday" interview. I had cut my apple juice with half-water before heading to water w/apple cider vinegar, but now my kid has learned that seltzer w/bitters or grenadine is better for him than apple juice. If only more researchers put effort into findings that contradicted "common knowledge," science would be more interesting. Thanks, Dr. Lustig!
BTW, I listened to Lustig's "Science Friday" interview. I had cut my apple juice with half-water before heading to water w/apple cider vinegar, but now my kid has learned that seltzer w/bitters or grenadine is better for him than apple juice. If only more researchers put effort into findings that contradicted "common knowledge," science would be more interesting. Thanks, Dr. Lustig!
21
It's serving sizes that have changed. People didn't drink the obscenely huge portions of soda that they do today. They didn't pound down bottle after bottle either.
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22175/4949…
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22175/4949…
22
Soda consumption has been a huge issue with 56% percent of 8 year olds and 78% of 9-14 year olds consume soft drinks daily, with a third of teenage boys and girls drinking at least three cans of soda a day. With each can of 12 oz. soda on average containing 10 teaspoons of sugar, these consumption rates exceed the allowance set by the American Heart Association. Specifically, children ages 4-8 should consume no more than 3 teaspoons of sugar per day and 5-8 teaspoons for adolescents.
But Coke's recent efforts to address these issues, this will only help further the conversation surrounding childhood obesity. As a mother and executive that has worked to fight childhood obesity over the last five years, I'm encouraged by the growing attention to this crucial agenda and in particular, the emphasis placed on addressing consumption of sugary beverages through healthier options, portion control and physical activity.
Rose Cameron, Founder/CEO
(http://bit.ly/obesityissue)
But Coke's recent efforts to address these issues, this will only help further the conversation surrounding childhood obesity. As a mother and executive that has worked to fight childhood obesity over the last five years, I'm encouraged by the growing attention to this crucial agenda and in particular, the emphasis placed on addressing consumption of sugary beverages through healthier options, portion control and physical activity.
Rose Cameron, Founder/CEO
(http://bit.ly/obesityissue)
23
The facts don't lie. One third of teenagers drink at least three cans of soda a day w/ each can of 12 oz. soda containing 10 teaspoons of sugar. That said, we pledge to continue our efforts and encourage the obesity conversation... http://bit.ly/obesityissue
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
It's Spring! Who's Ready for Street Harassment? by Cienna Madrid
-
New Gun Enthusiast... by Dan Savage
-
SL Letter of the Day: Gonna Boil My Laptop After Answering This One by Dan Savage
-
America Doesn't Care About Black People by Charles Mudede
-
Bigot Florist Files Countersuit by Dominic Holden
-
US Military Grants Itself the Power to Police American Streets and "Quell" "Civil Disturbances" by Brendan Kiley
-
SL Letter of the Day: Living Discomfortably by Dan Savage
-
Slog Super Poll: Who Should Be Mayor? by Dominic Holden
-
Black Market Elimination Fail: Draft Pot Rules Call for Ban on Hash and Hash Oil by Ben Livingston
-
Tim Burgess Quits the Mayor's Race by Dominic Holden
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (23) RSS